Automobile switch lock



Dec. 30, 1924.

A. BOTTOM AUTOMOBILE SWITCH LOCK Filed Jan. 22, 192s Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

ARTHUR BOTTOM, OF VETERAN, ALBERTA, CANADA.

AUTOMOBILE SVJITCH LOCK.

Application filed January 22, 1923.

to locking switches for automobile ignition systems.

One object of the invention .is to provide a switch of this character. in combination with an automatic cut-out, whereby the owner of an automobile may open the circuit, b v means of a series ot switch arms, it being necessarj7 to so position the arms, with respect to a combination dial, on the instrument boa-rd of the automobile, that all of the arms will contact with a metallic ring or plate, before the circuit will be completed.

Another' object is to provide a switch hav ing a plurality ot cont-act arms and contact plates, the arms being so formed, with respect to their cross-sectional areas, that when all of the arms are engaged with thc contact plates, current will iiow through the circuit and the cut-out, but when one or more of the arms are not in contact with the plates, the area of the contacted arm or arms will be so small that the resistance will prevent the flow of sufficient current to permit the successful operation ot the automobile.

Other objects `and advantages will be apparent from the Jfollowing description when taken in connection with the accom|mnving drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation ot the invention, in connection with a fragment ot the instrument board of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a View of the opposite side ot the dial, showing the metallic rings and the contact and insulated points, together with the switch arms and the automatic cut-out.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional detail view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing. 10 represents a portion of the instrument board. of an automobile, on

Serial No. 614,214.

which is secured the casing 11, having the dial 12 in the outer portion thereot` and a metallic disk 12, secured to the rear tace thereo't'. fin the outer tace o't the dial are toi-med circular series of letters and numbers. over which are arranged to travel the arms i3, il, and 15, each having on its outer end a l andlc or knob 1G. These arms are carried by the respective shafts 17, 18, and 19. which are disposed in telescoped relation through the center ot the dial. On the inner ends ot' the shafts 17, 1S, and 19, respectively, arc fixed the switch arms 20, 21, and said switch arms being arranged to travel on thc 'tace ot the before-mentioned metallic disk 12. This disk, however, is divided into tivo ring portions, arranged in. concentric relation. and joined together b v the web as seen in Figure 2, and on the face ot each ring portion arc series of insulated plates 24, the inner ring portion having a single bare space while the outer ring portion has two bare spaces 26. The spaces 26 are out ot line with the space 24, and with each other.

The ignition circuit is not shown, but the wires leading thereto are represented ln' thc numerals 27 and 29. The wire 27 is connected with the outer ring portion while tht` wil-c 29. is connected to the shafts 17, 18, and 19, as shown in the drawing, in Figure 2.

The switch arms 20, 21. and 22 are so proportioned. in their cross-sectifmal areas, that when the)v all contact with the bare spaces ot the disk 12, the current will flow t'reelv over the circuit, but should any one ot the switch arms bc disposed in contact with an insulated plate 21., the combined cross-sectional areas ot the switch arms which arc in Contact with the disk 12, will he too small to permit the current to flow freely, with the result that the resistance d bv the eontactingarms will render the ignition circuit inoperative, and pre vent the operation ot the engine, i

lt will, of course, be understood that the bare spaces of the disk 12 correspond to certain letters and numbers on the dial, thus permitting the owner to so rotate the arms 13, 1st, and 1.5. as to dispose them over the proper letters and numbers, to position the corresponding switch arms on the bare spaces ot the disk.

In some types of automobiles the circuit is grounded to stop the engine, and in this instance the present switch would be applicable thereto by substituting for the insulating plates 24, metal conducting plates and for the conducting portions or spaces 25 and 26, insulz'iting plates would be used. Thus when the switch arms are properly set they will be in contact with the insulating plates, and when improperly set will be in contact with the bare spaces7 which are grounded.

VWhat is claimed is:

l. A permutation switch including metallic contact points and insulation points, and a plurality ci switch arms` the arms and contact pointsl adapted to be included in an electric circuit, said arms being so proportioned with respect totlieii resistance that absence ol one in a circuit will reduce the tlow ot'current.

2. A. permutation switch in the circuit and including a contact member and mow able switch arms, the said switch arms be ing proportioned with respect to their cresssectional areas that all thereof must engage the said contact member to permit the maximum flow of current.

A permutation switch in the circuit and including' a dial7 a metallic plate mounted on the dial and divided into concentric rings in metallic connection7 said rings having bared and insulated spaces, shafts disposed through the dia-l7 manually operable arms on one end ot the shafts and switch'armswon the other end. the latter arms being arranged to traverse the rings and being so proportioned with respect to their cross-sectional areas that absence of one Yfrom the circuit will prevent a maximum flow of current.

ln testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in thc presence oi two witnesses.

ARTl'l UR B()'l"l `()i\l`. lVitnesses GLENC. HOLLAND,I DESnoNn ll,y (loLLiNs. 

